Effective upon booking. Please read carefully before reserving.
These Terms of Service govern all reservations made with The Hickory Hop, an airport shuttle service operating in and around the Hickory, NC area. By booking a reservation with us, you acknowledge that you have read, understood, and agree to be bound by these terms. If you have questions prior to booking, please contact our office before completing your reservation.
1. Contact Information
The Hickory Hop
557 US Highway 70 SW, Hickory, NC 28602
Phone: (828) 327-2340
Email: reservations@hickoryhop.com
Website: hickoryhop.com
All correspondence regarding reservations, cancellations, and complaints must be directed to our office staff. Please do not contact drivers regarding scheduling or billing matters.
2. Reservations & Payments
All reservations must be made in advance. By completing a booking, you agree to all terms set forth in this document. Payment is due at the time of booking unless otherwise arranged with our office.
3. Cancellation & Refund Policy
3a. Art of Living Retreat Center — Non-Refundable Reservations
All reservations to or from The Art of Living Retreat Center are strictly non-refundable and non-transferable, regardless of the date on which cancellation is requested or the reason for cancellation. No exceptions will be made.
3b. Standard Reservations — Refund Eligibility
For all other reservations not otherwise designated as non-refundable:
- Refunds are available if a cancellation is requested more than 24 hours prior to the scheduled travel date and time.
- Cancellations requested within 24 hours of the scheduled travel date and time are non-refundable.
- If a reservation is rescheduled to a later date or time within 24 hours of the original scheduled travel date and time, that reservation becomes non-refundable regardless of when any subsequent cancellation request is made.
4. Passenger Conduct
Passengers are expected to conduct themselves in a manner consistent with standard public transportation norms. The Hickory Hop reserves the right to refuse service to any individual for any reason, at any time, at our sole discretion.
4a. Timeliness
Passengers are required to be at their designated pickup location at least 15 minutes prior to their scheduled departure time. Our shuttles depart on schedule regardless of whether all booked passengers are on board. We are unable to delay departure for late-arriving passengers.
4b. Issues & Complaints
Any issues, concerns, or complaints must be directed to our office staff and not to our drivers. Drivers are not authorized to negotiate scheduling, billing, or policy matters. Please contact our office by phone or email for any service-related concerns.
4c. General Conduct Standards
Passengers are expected to maintain respectful and considerate behavior toward drivers, staff, and fellow passengers. The following conduct is required of all passengers:
- Treat all drivers, staff, and fellow passengers with courtesy and respect.
- Refrain from disruptive, threatening, or aggressive behavior.
- Comply with driver instructions at all times while aboard the shuttle.
- Maintain personal hygiene standards consistent with shared transportation.
- Passengers who are visibly intoxicated or under the influence of drugs or alcohol may be denied boarding at the driver’s discretion. No refund will be issued in the event service is refused due to intoxication.
4d. Child Passenger Safety & Car Seats
In accordance with North Carolina law, all child passengers must be properly secured in an appropriate car seat or booster seat. It is the responsibility of the booking party to ensure compliance with NC child passenger safety requirements. Installing the car seat or booster and properly buckling the child passenger in is the responsibility of the accompanying adult passenger(s). All passengers below the age of 18 at the time of travel must be accompanied by an adult.
Car seats and booster seats are available upon request at no additional charge. Requests must be made at the time of booking.
Important: If a car seat or booster seat is required for a child passenger and one was not requested at the time of booking, passengers must supply their own. If the required seat is neither requested in advance nor provided by the passenger at pickup, service will be denied at the curb and no refund will be issued.
5. Prohibited Items
In alignment with TSA and airline standards, the following items are prohibited aboard all Hickory Hop shuttles:
- Firearms, ammunition, and weapons of any kind (unless unloaded, properly cased, and in accordance with all applicable laws).
- Explosives, flammable materials, and hazardous chemicals.
- Illegal drugs and controlled substances.
- Alcohol (open containers).
- Items with strong or offensive odors that may disturb other passengers.
- Any item deemed unsafe or inappropriate by the driver or company at our sole discretion.
Animal Policy: Service animals are welcome aboard all shuttles without restriction and are not required to be contained. Emotional support animals and pets are permitted provided that (1) you notify our office at the time of booking and (2) the animal is transported in an appropriate, secure carrier for the duration of the ride. Animals not disclosed at the time of booking or not properly contained may be denied boarding at the driver’s discretion.
6. Delays & Missed Shuttles
6a. Passengers Traveling by Flight — Flight Delays
The Hickory Hop tracks flight arrivals into Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT). In the event of a verified flight delay:
- Passengers whose flight into CLT is delayed will be accommodated on the next available shuttle time slot for their booked route at no additional charge.
- We are only able to automatically track and respond to delays for flights arriving into Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT). Passengers arriving via any other airport or transit method are responsible for notifying our office directly of any delays as they occur (see Section 6c).
6b. Passengers Who Miss Their Shuttle (Non-Delay)
Passengers who miss their scheduled shuttle departure for any reason other than a verified travel delay (e.g., insufficient time allowed between flight arrival and shuttle departure, or failure to be at the pickup location on time) will be accommodated on the next scheduled shuttle time slot that was already planned to run on that route. We are unable to operate a shuttle that would otherwise not be running solely to accommodate a missed connection. No refund will be issued for missed shuttles.
6c. Non-Flight Passenger Delay Notification
Passengers not traveling by flight are solely responsible for proactively communicating any delays in their travel to our office as they occur. Because we do not track non-flight travel, we cannot be held responsible for providing an alternate shuttle if we are not notified of a delay in a timely manner. We will make every reasonable effort to accommodate delayed passengers where operationally possible, but we do not guarantee alternate service if timely notice is not received.
7. Luggage & Personal Belongings
The Hickory Hop is not responsible or liable for any lost, stolen, or damaged items, including but not limited to luggage, bags, personal effects, electronics, valuables, or any other property brought aboard our vehicles or left in our care at any time.
Passengers are strongly advised not to leave valuables unattended and to ensure all personal belongings are secured before and during travel. The Hickory Hop assumes no liability for items left behind in vehicles.
8. Right to Refuse Service
The Hickory Hop reserves the right to refuse service to any passenger for any reason, at any time, without prior notice. This includes but is not limited to passengers who are disruptive, pose a safety risk to drivers or other passengers, are in violation of these Terms of Service, or are in possession of prohibited items. No refund is guaranteed in cases where service is refused due to a passenger’s conduct or violation of these terms.
9. Limitation of Liability
The Hickory Hop shall not be held liable for any damages, losses, or costs incurred by passengers arising from, but not limited to:
- Delays caused by traffic, weather, road conditions, or other circumstances beyond our control.
- Missed flights or connections resulting from shuttle delays.
- Loss of, theft of, or damage to personal property.
- Any indirect, incidental, or consequential damages arising from use of our services.
10. Modifications to These Terms
The Hickory Hop reserves the right to modify these Terms of Service at any time. Updated terms will be posted to hickoryhop.com and are effective upon publication. Continued use of our services following any modification constitutes acceptance of the revised terms. Passengers are encouraged to review these terms prior to each booking.
11. Governing Law
These Terms of Service shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of North Carolina. Any disputes arising under or in connection with these terms shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts located in Catawba County, North Carolina.
Thank you for choosing The Hickory Hop.
Questions? Contact us at (828) 327-2340 or reservations@hickoryhop.com
557 US Highway 70 SW, Hickory, NC 28602 | hickoryhop.com